About Accreditation

Elevate Your Practice and Deliver Exceptional Care

Accreditation is the perfect benchmark for your commitment to quality. By achieving accreditation, you demonstrate your dedication to:

Exceptional patient care: From pain management and anesthesia to diagnostics and surgery, our standards cover every aspect of your practice.
Unwavering commitment to quality: We go beyond just meeting basic requirements, ensuring your team adheres to best practices across the board.
Continuous improvement: Our dynamic standards evolve with the veterinary profession, keeping you at the forefront of innovation.

Why Choose AAHA?

Stand out from the crowd: Around 15% of practices achieve AAHA accreditation, setting you apart as a leader in excellence.
Empower your team: Show your staff you prioritize professional development and exceptional patient care, fostering a culture of pride and engagement.
Boost client confidence: Give pet owners peace of mind knowing their furry companions are receiving the highest quality care.
Increase revenue and efficiency: Studies show accredited practices experience higher client satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, financial success.

AAHA Partners With You

A dedicated accreditation team will be with you every step of the way through the accreditation processes.

Meet the Team

Types of Accreditation

Independent Hospitals

for general and emergency practices

Corporate Hospitals

for traditional, full-service hospitals or practices within corporate veterinary enterprise groups

End-of-Life Care Accreditation

for AAHA practices or standalone end-of-life care practices

Specialty/Referral Accreditation

for AVMA-recognized specialty practices

A large breed dog and a Siamese cat sit closely together as they relax at home.

accreditation benefits

Compared to non-accredited practices, AAHA-accredited practices have:

Fewer lapsed patients
More new customers per year
Clients who choose more care

See All Accreditation Benefits

AAHA’s Standards of Excellence

Practices seeking AAHA accreditation are evaluated on nearly 50 mandatory standards as well as additional applicable standards. AAHA’s standards were developed by experts and encompass all aspects of veterinary medicine.

Anesthesia
Dentistry
Emergency & Critical Care
Human Resources
Laboratory

View the Standards (member-exclusive)

Accreditation FAQs

How much does AAHA accreditation and membership cost?

View costs on the Earn Accreditation page.

How long does accreditation take?

We help you get through the process at the best pace for you. Generally, it takes from 3 to 6 months.

What happens if a practice doesn’t pass the evaluation?

If you are unable to achieve AAHA accreditation after your initial evaluation, your practice consultant will convert that visit into a “courtesy walkthrough,” and you won’t be penalized. Your consultant will review any adjustments that you may need to make in order to achieve accreditation during your next visit. We will then work with you to reschedule your formal evaluation once you’ve had a chance to put your consultant’s recommendations into effect.